After being eased out of the Paramount studios that he helped create, W.W. Hodkinson returned to independent production. Hodkinson's The Critical Age top-bills James Harrison as a young toughie with a heart of gold. Harrison falls in love with
Pauline Garon, but evidently doesn't stand a chance with her because of the intervention of a snotty senator's son. Our Hero proves his mettle during a heart-stopping canoe rescue sequence. The Critical Age ran 4 reels, qualifying it as a long short subject or short feature. The film was based on Ralph Connor's novel Glengarry School Days. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide